What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) While on a search mission at night over water a bell OH58C operated by jefferson county sheriff's department with two on board was destroyed when it impacted water, one fatal. Pilot reported that he flew the bell OH58C from the right seat the pallenger was in the left seat and operating a search light. The helicopter descending in a searching pattern from an altitude of 500 feet on a clear dark night, no moon. The last altimeter reading the pilot saw was 165 feet. While in forward flight at 80 knots pilot made a sharp right turn, during turn the OH58C plunged into the lake.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) WHILE ON A SEARCH MISSION AT NIGHT OVER WATER A BELL OH58C OPERATED BY JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WITH TWO ON BOARD WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT IMPACTED WATER, ONE FATAL. PILOT REPORTED THAT HE FLEW THE BELL OH58C FROM THE RIGHT SEAT THE PALLENGER WAS IN THE LEFT SEAT AND OPERATING A SEARCH LIGHT. THE HELICOPTER DESCENDING IN A SEARCHING PATTERN FROM AN ALTITUDE OF 500 FEET ON A CLEAR DARK NIGHT, NO MOON. THE LAST ALTIMETER READING THE PILOT SAW WAS 165 FEET. WHILE IN FORWARD FLIGHT AT 80 KNOTS PILOT MADE A SHARP RIGHT TURN, DURING TURN THE OH58C PLUNGED INTO THE LAKE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.